Directory handling system calls

    Directory contains all files (special files and ordinary files) and sub directories. UNIX uses hierarchical structure for organizing files and directories. The root directory is  /(slash), and all other directories contained in it. The directory which you are working at present is called home directory.

The following are the various system calls that are used in directory operations in UNIX.

int mkdir(char *path, mode_t mode);

int creat(chat *path,mode_t mode);

int link(char *path,char *path2);

int unlink(char * path);

int rmdir(char *path);

int chdir(char *path);

char *getcwd(char *path);

 DIR *opendir(char *path);

 int closedir(DIR *dirp);

mkdir

         This creates a new directory with no initial contents. It returns -1 on failure.

  creat

         This creates a new file, using a new inode. It also creates a new entry in the directory.

 link

           Link adds another name to an existing file.The link count in the inode is incremented. link does not make a new directory entry.

 unlink

           unlink system call is used to remove an entry from a directory. The link count in the inode is decreased.

chdir

           This syste call is used to change the current directory.

getcwd:

          |This system call is used to retrieve the string which contains the path of presenting working directory.

rmdir

       This will remove the directory. But before deleting the directory make sure that the directory is empty i.e., remove all the files in the directory first then delete the directory.

                   (to be continued)

UNIX file handling system calls, UNIX directory handling system call, UNIX mdkir(),chdir(),getcwd(),pwd,getcwd(), link(),unlink() rmdir() system calls. file handling system calls,